Two former Parramatta Eels players are accused of harbouring semi-automatic weapons and possessing more than half-a-million dollars in cash after dramatic arrests in Sydney's Centennial Park yesterday.

Thousands of US sailors visit Brisbane

Sailors from a US aircraft carrier docked in Brisbane have wasted no time heading ashore for some much-anticipated rest, recuperation and fun.

More than 5500 crew members from the USS George Washington are visiting the city and the nearby Gold Coast on shore leave over the next five days.

Crew dressed in civilian clobber began filing off the enormous nuclear-powered ship as soon as they could once it came into the Port of Brisbane on Friday morning.

They're in Australia for July's biennial war games known as Exercise Talisman Sabre and, according to their captain, are looking forward to one of their favourite stopovers.

"They work about 12 to 18 hours every day and when they come into a place like Brisbane they just want to relax and sleep more than anything else the first couple of days," Captain Timothy Kuehhas said.

Among those welcoming the influx of US visitors are local business owners anticipating a spike in tourism dollars this weekend.

"We hope they have a great time in Brisbane and they spend lots of money, and they get out and about," Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said.